New models and a variety of designs are breathing life into a category that was largely abandoned. These machines can deliver the thrills of a vintage sports car and the excitement of a motorcycle, without the risk of tipping over at stoplights.
Three-wheelers may also be an attractive alternative for riders with some types of disabilities, or whose spouses are anxious about the hazards of the road. In the United States 3-wheelers are typically classified as motorcycles and do not have to meet federal safety standards that apply to cars.
Recent entries like the Can-Am Spyder and Polaris Slingshot use two wheels at the front and one at the rear to create a stable chassis. The Harley-Davidson Freewheeler Trike, using the more traditional format of a single wheel at the front, is marketed as a symbol of simpler times.
The Piaggio MP3 500 maxi scooter is different: It leans into turns like a conventional motorcycle. It combines the agility, slim design and easy parking of a motorcycle with the added safety margin of duplicate front wheels and brakes. This makes the MP3 popular for European commuters who often encounter rain, cobblestones and slippery streetcar tracks.
Variations in wheel placements result in fundamental differences in operation. Two-wheel motorcycles, scooters and bicycles — and the Piaggio MP3 — lean over as they proceed through a turn. Nonleaning 3-wheelers steer like a car, and cornering forces can lift an inside wheel, which could frighten an inexperienced rider.
Below are some examples of the 3-wheelers currently offered:
WHAT IS IT? A modern sports car up front and a modern superbike in back, starting at $20,049.
HOW’S IT DRIVE? Fast, frenzied and freaky.
The Spyder F3 flips the conventional tricycle layout by placing a single drive wheel at the rear and a pair of wheels to do the turning at the front. Its goal is to deliver the feel of being at the handlebars of a powerful cruiser bike, but with a stable platform that a rider does not have to balance when stopped.
Built by Bombardier Recreational Products of Canada, the Spyder F3’s 115-horsepower 3-cylinder engine is coupled to a manual or automatic transmission. The cornering speed is electronically limited: If the inside front wheel starts to lift, the F3 gently activates its front brakes to keep it grounded.
2015 PIAGGIO MP3 500 ABS
WHAT IS IT? A 3-wheel scooter from Italy that leans like a sportbike.
HOW’S IT DRIVE? It’s a hoot, with responsive steering, excellent braking and extra grip.
The Piaggio MP3 is a hit in Europe, where maxi scooters are regarded more as transportation than recreation. Sales have been slower in the United States, despite rave reviews. That’s too bad, because the MP3 is a metric ton of grocery-toting, urban-commuting giggles.
The articulating front suspension gives it an extra dose of safety and security, with dual front tires, antilock braking and traction control. The MP3 500 ABS goes on sale early in 2015. Prices for the redesigned model have not been announced.
2014 HARLEY-DAVIDSON FREEWHEELER TRIKE
WHAT IS IT? Essentially, the front half of a Harley-Davidson with the back half of a 1954 MG TF.
HOW’S IT DRIVE? Like a 1,200-pound tricycle. The Freewheeler starts at $25,855, including delivery.
The Freewheeler is built for riders who crave the rumble of a Harley but are looking for the stability of a mount that won’t fall over at stoplights. It’s propelled by a rubber-mounted, fuel-injected version of the air-cooled, 103-cubic inch V-twin engine.
The tricycle-style design, introduced on the 1932 Harley-Davidson Servi-Car, seems reassuring, but its narrow front tire, wide track and high riding position make quick evasive maneuvers problematic. Harley also offers a touring-oriented 3-wheeler, the Tri Glide Ultra, for an added $8,000.
2014 MORGAN 3 WHEELER
WHAT IS IT? A Sopwith Camel without the wings, for $51,930 with shipping and Customs fees.
HOW’S IT DRIVE? Curse you, Red LeBaron!
The Morgan 3 Wheeler is, in truth, older than the Sopwith Camel — the first production examples were driven on British roads a century ago. The current version, evolved from models of the 1930s, uses an 82-horsepower V-twin engine, based on Harley-Davidson architecture, driving the single rear wheel through a Mazda 5-speed transmission.
The Morgan is built by hand. Aluminum body panels are mounted to the steel-tube chassis on a framework of hand-formed hardwood, and a customer can choose from 40,000 paint colors and 50 shades of leather.